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Discover accredited online bachelor’s in psychology programs that balance quality education with exceptional affordability. Each program on this list is verified for current tuition rates from official university sources and recognized regional accreditation. These 10 programs offer tuition ranging from $129 to $424 per credit hour.
Key Takeaways
- Programs Reviewed
- 18 candidate programs across public and nonprofit institutions
- Data Verified
- 2024-2025 academic year tuition rates from official .edu sources
- Primary Sources
- Official university websites, regional accreditor directories, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s in Computer Science Degrees
UF Online delivers the same rigorous psychology curriculum as the flagship campus at dramatically reduced online rates, making it the most affordable option for Florida residents seeking a respected public university degree.
Notable Features
- Students receive identical diplomas to on-campus graduates from the University of Florida, consistently ranked among the top 10 public universities nationally.
- The program requires 30 credit hours in psychology including courses in research methods, statistics, and behavioral science foundations.
- Online learners access the same faculty, library resources, and career services available to Gainesville campus students.
- UF Online charges no out-of-state differential for military-affiliated students and offers extensive transfer credit evaluation.
- Multiple start dates per year allow flexibility in beginning the degree program without waiting for traditional semester cycles.
Valdosta State's Online College for Career Advancement offers an all-inclusive eDegree rate that bundles tuition and course materials with no additional mandatory fees, creating exceptional total value regardless of residency.
Notable Features
- The eDegree program operates on 8-week accelerated sessions, allowing students to complete courses faster than traditional semester formats.
- Students in the Online College for Career Advancement are exempt from the standard $442 online learning fee charged to other online students.
- The program accepts transfer credits from regionally accredited institutions and offers prior learning assessment opportunities for working adults.
- Psychology courses cover clinical, developmental, cognitive, and social psychology with research methodology training.
- Career-focused curriculum prepares graduates for immediate workforce entry or graduate school applications in psychology and counseling.
UCF's psychology program offers six specialized tracks including clinical, industrial/organizational, and neuroscience concentrations, delivering exceptional depth at one of America's largest and most innovative public universities.
Notable Features
- The program offers six distinct concentration tracks: Clinical, Experimental, General, Human Factors, Industrial/Organizational, and Neuroscience.
- UCF serves over 68,000 students and maintains extensive research partnerships, providing undergraduate research opportunities even for online students.
- The online psychology degree may be completed fully online, though some elective options or prerequisites may require alternative arrangements.
- Strong articulation agreements with Florida State College System institutions ensure seamless transfer pathways for Associate degree holders.
- Graduates gain preparation for careers in mental health services, human resources, research assistance, and graduate programs in psychology.
FIU, South Florida's largest public research university, delivers a fully online psychology degree with optional Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) track, serving over 2,400 psychology majors across diverse program pathways.
Notable Features
- FIU's psychology department serves over 2,400 majors and offers specialized coursework in developmental, cognitive, social, and abnormal psychology.
- The optional Applied Behavior Analysis track prepares graduates for Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) certification eligibility.
- As a Hispanic-Serving Institution with minority-majority enrollment, FIU provides a diverse learning community and multicultural perspectives.
- Online students access the Panther Book Pack program for course materials, which can be opted out of to reduce costs.
- FIU's location in Miami offers unique networking opportunities for students interested in cross-cultural psychology and community mental health.
Fort Hays State offers one flat rate for all online students nationwide, making it the most affordable option for out-of-state students seeking a psychology degree without residency-based tuition differentials.
Notable Features
- FHSU charges identical tuition to all online students regardless of geographic location, eliminating out-of-state tuition premiums entirely.
- Students choose between Bachelor of Arts (requiring foreign language) or Bachelor of Science (requiring natural science/mathematics emphasis) pathways.
- The program includes 38 credit hours in psychology coursework plus 34 hours of general education and 38 hours of electives.
- Faculty-student mentoring programs connect online learners with psychology professors for research guidance and career advising.
- HLC accreditation has been continuously maintained since 1915, with reaffirmation through 2033-34 demonstrating institutional stability.
APUS provides a military-friendly psychology degree with automatic tuition grants reducing costs for all students, plus free digital textbooks and monthly class start dates offering maximum scheduling flexibility.
Notable Features
- All non-military students automatically receive a 10% Opportunity Grant reducing standard tuition from $350 to $315 per credit hour.
- Active duty service members, Guard, Reserves, and military families pay just $250 per credit hour under the preferred military rate.
- Digital textbooks are provided at no additional cost, eliminating hundreds of dollars in course materials expenses per semester.
- Classes begin monthly in 8-week and 16-week formats, allowing students to start immediately rather than waiting for semester dates.
- No application fees, registration fees, or technology fees are charged, keeping total program costs transparent and predictable.
Chadron State, part of the Nebraska State College System, offers one of the nation's most affordable online psychology degrees with flat-rate tuition for all students and strong preparation for graduate studies.
Notable Features
- The Nebraska State College System sets uniform online tuition eliminating residency-based pricing differences for distance learners.
- Psychological Sciences serves as a subject major, typically paired with a minor or second major to broaden career preparation.
- Small class sizes characteristic of Chadron State translate to more personalized faculty interaction even in online coursework.
- The curriculum emphasizes research methodology and critical thinking skills valued by graduate programs and employers.
- Located in rural Nebraska, the institution maintains low overhead costs that translate to consistently affordable tuition rates.
Connecticut's designated distance learning institution, Charter Oak State College accepts up to 90 transfer credits and offers prior learning assessment, making it ideal for returning adults completing interrupted degrees affordably.
Notable Features
- As Connecticut's only public college designed exclusively for online adult learners, Charter Oak specializes in flexible degree completion pathways.
- The psychology major requires 39 credits including 12 core credits, 9 elective credits, 15 concentration credits, and a 3-credit capstone.
- Prior Learning Assessment allows students to earn credit for documented professional experience, potentially reducing time to graduation.
- Uniform tuition applies to all students regardless of state residency, effective since July 2023.
- Six enrollment periods per year provide frequent opportunities to begin or resume studies without extended waiting periods.
LSU Online delivers five psychology concentrations through Louisiana State University Alexandria, combining the LSU brand recognition with accessible pricing and specialized tracks in clinical, I/O, and applied behavior analysis.
Notable Features
- Students choose from five concentrations: General Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Family and Community Dynamics, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and Applied Behavior Analysis.
- The Applied Behavior Analysis concentration provides coursework toward Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) examination preparation.
- Delivered through LSU Online, the program carries Louisiana State University System recognition and alumni network access.
- The flexible online format accommodates working professionals with asynchronous coursework and multiple entry points.
- Transfer-friendly policies and articulation agreements with Louisiana community colleges streamline degree completion for regional students.
As part of the University of Illinois System, UIS offers guaranteed flat-rate e-tuition for all online students regardless of residency, providing access to a Big Ten-affiliated public university at predictable costs.
Notable Features
- E-tuition guarantees the same rate for all online students regardless of geographic location, eliminating out-of-state tuition concerns.
- The psychology program requires 36 upper-division hours in the major, allowing substantial customization through elective selection.
- UIS specifically designed its online programs for working adults, with most courses offered asynchronously in evening-friendly formats.
- Approximately 98% of UIS students receive some form of financial aid, demonstrating strong institutional commitment to affordability.
- Graduates earn a University of Illinois diploma, carrying the recognition and alumni network of the state's flagship public university system.
Methodology
CVO ranks programs by affordability, outcomes, support, flexibility, and institutional value. Each program receives a CVO Methodology Score (0-100) and a CVO Value Score based on break-even time. View full methodology →
